"There is a clear conflict-of-interest," State Rep. Stacey Newman, a Democrat, tells Daily RFT. "It's very troubling.... There are questions that need to be answered before you have credibility serving on a privacy protection committee."

A spokesman for the Missouri State Highway Patrol tells Daily RFT that the agency has launched a "preliminary investigation" to determine if a full investigation is warranted. He says he cannot comment further.

ABC 17 News reported last week that the sheriff is accused of harassing and stalking a Maries County woman who was a former co-worker. The woman reportedly originally brought the complaint to the Maries County Sheriff's Department. (Daily RFT left messages for that department and for Dixon and will update if we hear back).